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The prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2009

Oluyomi A. Sowemimo
Oluyomi A. Sowemimo*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A study of gastrointestinal parasites in 269 faecal samples from dogs (Canis familiaris) collected from Ile-Ife, Nigeria between January and December 2004, revealed seven helminth species: Toxocara canis 33.8%, Ancylostoma sp. 34.6%, Toxascaris leonina 3.3%, Trichuris vulpis 3.7%, Dipylidium caninum 4.1%, Uncinaria stenocephala 0.7% and Taenia sp. 1.1%. The faecal egg intensities, determined as mean eggs per gram of faeces ( ± SEM) were: T. canis 393.8 ± 83.4, Ancylostoma sp. 101.5 ± 32.8, T. leonina 14.3 ± 7.9, T. vulpis 3.4 ± 1.5, D. caninum 2.2 ± 0.8, U. stenocephala 0.2 ± 0.2. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in dogs of age 0–6 months than in older age groups. There was no significance difference in overall prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites between male (58.3%) and female (50.0%) dogs (P>0.05). The prevalence of helminth parasites was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in free-ranging than in kennelled dogs. The prevalence of helminth parasites was also significantly higher (P < 0.05) in African shepherds than in Alsatians and other exotic breeds. Each helminth parasite had similar prevalences and intensities among both genders (P>0.05) except in T. vulpis. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites may continue to rise due to lack of functional veterinary clinics for dog care in Ile-Ife. Therefore, there is the need to establish a veterinary facility in Ile-Ife.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 83 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 27 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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